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Lewis Hamilton said his “heart really sank” when his Ferrari hit a mechanic during a pit stop at the Belgian Grand Prix, but he was relieved the crew member was unhurt after stewards fined the team €30,000. Hamilton said: "The green light went and so I went. You're looking over here [to the left at the lights] you're not looking over there so that's more probably on the team, ultimately. But when it happened, then I noticed him and I stopped and it just went through my mind in that moment was back when Kimi hit and broke a leg and my heart really sank for a second."
Lewis Hamilton says his opening-lap collision with George Russell at the Belgian Grand Prix was “a racing incident”, despite the Ferrari driver being given a five-second penalty after Russell retired from the race. Hamilton said: "Ultimately, sorry for George because that obviously ended his race, but I did think… I do agree that it was a racing incident. It's not like I went in aggressive and was misplaced or anything like that. I think it was just an unfortunate scenario, which happens in racing. Then I had damage as well, so I carried that through the race. It was a tough one."
Red Bull team boss Laurent Mekies said the team have made their car “stronger and stronger” and believes they can fight for podiums “pretty much at every circuit” after Max Verstappen finished third and Isack Hadjar climbed to sixth at the Belgian Grand Prix. Mekies said: "First, it is a very strong result for everyone back at [the factory in] Milton Keynes who has worked so hard to get the car stronger and stronger. We have made a step forward after Austria and it was a bit more of a difficult weekend in Silverstone, and here we have confirmed that we can fight for podiums pretty much at every circuit. The last bit to get is the most difficult, and Kimi had still a sizeable advantage."
Oscar Piastri said Charles Leclerc should at least have been shown a black-and-white flag after their lap-eight collision while battling for third at the Belgian Grand Prix, which stewards decided required no action. Piastri said: "From where I was at, I was on the white line and got squeezed. I don't really know where I was supposed to go, so the fact that was no... I'm not saying it needed to be a penalty necessarily, but at least a black-and-white flag or something like that, because if we think that that's fine… even just the incentive of knowing that you can leave everyone the absolute bare minimum space and get away with it, that's not the nicest place to be."
Ferrari team boss Frederic Vasseur said Lewis Hamilton’s five-second penalty for his opening-lap collision with George Russell at the Belgian Grand Prix was “mega harsh”. Vasseur said: "I think it's mega harsh. If you have a look on the corner, Russell had enough space on the left-hand side, it's not that he was close to the wall. I think it's more a racing incident for me and this cost us a lot."
Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur said the team were not expecting to be so competitive at Spa-Francorchamps after Charles Leclerc finished second in the Belgian Grand Prix and Lewis Hamilton took fourth. Vasseur said: "I think overall, it's a very strong result for the team. We were not expecting this kind of result at Silverstone and Spa due to the layout of the track. We did a good job with execution, good strategy, good pit stop. I think on the chassis side we are doing a strong job, we are bringing upgrades. It's paying off, small steps but small step by small step, we are catching up."
Charles Leclerc says he has made a step forward after finishing second at the Belgian Grand Prix for his second consecutive podium. Leclerc said: "I'm confident in saying that I made a step forward. Whether I'm at the level where I want to perform, not yet. There are still things in the car that I need to drive around. I cannot drive completely naturally, and that is slowing me down in some parts of the race. So, there are still things that I've got to work on in order to be better. But surely it was a step forward, and for that I'm happy."
Max Verstappen said Formula 1’s 2026 energy-deployment can make racing “a jungle” after the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa. Verstappen said: "Yeah, welcome to F1 2026, sometimes it can be a jungle."
Toto Wolff says all Mercedes-powered cars were down on straight-line power during the Belgian Grand Prix, and admitted it was a team mistake that badly affected George Russell. Wolff said: "We had an issue on all Mercedes engines that we lacked the power out on the straights. That bit him [Russell] badly and it goes one-hundred-percent on us. We're trying our best as a team. We have the most powerful power unit – we have a strong car that is capable of winning. Everybody gives their maximum to minimise their mistakes and still it happens – because we are humans at work."
Toto Wolff says Mercedes are pushing hard but that “sometimes our best is not good enough” after a bittersweet Belgian Grand Prix in which Kimi Antonelli won and George Russell retired. Wolff said: "We're trying to give it our best and sometimes our best is not good enough. Sometimes it is good enough, but one thing is we are all pushing extra hard."
Lando Norris says he had the pace to win the Belgian Grand Prix but felt a 10-place grid drop for new power unit components, poorly timed virtual safety car periods and a slow pit stop left his race “incredibly tough”. Norris said: "I don't think we could have made our race any more difficult today. The pace was good enough for a podium or even to win. So it's a shame that we couldn't try and achieve that."
Max Verstappen says Red Bull would “love an engine upgrade” and questioned the FIA’s ADUO ruling that its Red Bull-Ford power unit is the benchmark, which means it cannot be upgraded this season. Verstappen said: "I would also love an engine upgrade, but that's not in my hands. Meant to be [the best one], but when you look at qualifying, it doesn't really look like it, does it? So, I don't know what to say."
Max Verstappen said he and Kimi Antonelli were "unlucky" with the timing of a virtual safety car in the Belgian Grand Prix that helped Charles Leclerc jump ahead, as Verstappen finished third. Max Verstappen said: "I think Kimi and I got a little bit unlucky with the virtual safety car as well. So for us to be on the podium is very good. I gave it everything I had, and I think actually, P3 is good."
Kimi Antonelli says he has “got to take every opportunity” in the title battle after his Belgian Grand Prix win at Spa-Francorchamps extended his lead over Mercedes team-mate George Russell to 50 points when Russell retired. Antonelli said: "I think the momentum was always there. Was just about getting the result and today we were a bit lucky in terms of what happened with the championship but that's why you've got to take every opportunity. We saw that it can swing really easily, the situation, so we [have] just got to keep performing, keep bringing the result and we'll see what happens at the end of the year."
Carlos Sainz says Formula 1’s current cars are “not good enough” and need to be changed, after drivers highlighted battery harvesting and “super clipping” at Spa-Francorchamps as hurting high-speed performance. Sainz said: "I think everyone knows this is not good enough for Formula One and needs to be changed. It's going to be changed, it's going to be evolved. But yeah, it's clear that none of us are enjoying the cars as much as last years to drive."
Charles Leclerc said he “believed in the win until the end” of the Belgian Grand Prix after being passed for the lead by Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli with 10 laps remaining. Leclerc said: "I believed in the win until the end. We had a little bit of luck obviously with the VSC at the right time for us but the pace was relatively strong."
Toto Wolff says Mercedes will support George Russell and he will “put an arm around him” after Russell’s first-lap exit from the Belgian Grand Prix following a collision with Lewis Hamilton. Wolff said: "I haven't seen him yet, but it's completely understandable that the moment you're out of this race, it's so frustrating, and the emotions spoil. But he has our 100 per cent support. We are trying to solve all the issues. He's doing everything he can to get on top his driving. So, yeah, I haven't spoken to him, but I'm gonna try to put my arm around him."
George Russell said he is “numb” to the disappointment after retiring from the Belgian Grand Prix on the opening lap following contact with Lewis Hamilton. Russell said: "I'm numb to the disappointment now. When it happens so often, you just get used to it."
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